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Lee Lab

Molecular Genetics of Chronic Inflammation and Allergic Disease

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The goal of our group is to use genetic and genomic approaches in large study groups of affected patients and families to identify genes and genetic variants that predispose to eczema, asthma, and chronic inflammation.

The allergic disorders, eczema, asthma, and hay fever, are the most common chronic diseases in childhood. The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased to epidemic dimensions over the past decades. In the industrialized countries, 25-30% of the population are affected.

We complement clinical phenotypes with precise molecular phenotypes to characterize underlying functional pathways. Enhanced understanding of how the interaction between environmental factors, genetics, and the immune system results in inflammation will enable the development of novel diagnostic and predictive clinical tools, and of targets for innovative therapies.